DELMAR - Most Sundays, Gregory's Barbershop, a third-generation business in this Bethlehem hamlet, is empty.

But on this past Sunday afternoon, most of the chairs were full, the waiting area was occupied, and the barbershop would have been creating revenue, if revenue were why the barbers were there.

Instead, these barbers were volunteering five hours of their Sunday to cut hair for a cause. The earnings from every $20 haircut was headed to the local chapter of the American Cancer Society through a sponsorship of area high schools Coaches vs. Cancer Challenge tournament.

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The event began five years ago when Brian Fruscio, the dean of students and head basketball coach at the Albany Academies approached barbershop owner Gregory Zorian III -- who had cut Fruscio's and his three sons' hair for years -- to inquire if he would be interested in donating to the Albany Academies' annual Coaches vs. Cancer tournament.

"Instead of writing a check for $50, I said maybe we come in Sunday and we make an event out of it," Zorian said.

Although the event made less than $800 that year, it was far beyond the $50 check Zorian might have made out. Now, five years later, the event has gradually gained notoriety and attendance. This past Sunday, Zorian said it looked like they would be raising $2,000.

"Especially with Brian (Fruscio) and the Academy, they have such a big network, it was easier to raise more money when we put both of our networks together," Zorian said.

On Sunday, the waiting room was full of basketball players from Albany Academy basketball, who had come in on the heels of Guilderland baseball players. But, as Zorian said, it was not just the high school athletes.

After the Albany Academy players left, Troy resident Tom Benoit sat down for a trim in the barbershop he has been coming to for 17 years, even after he left Delmar and moved to the Olde Judge Mansion on Sixth Ave.

"It's a great cause and I didn't necessarily need a haircut today, but I came out anyway," Benoit said.

"Greg does a very good military-style haircut," explained Beloit, who served 23 years of active duty in the Army. "He does it right, and it's a friendly place."